TAIPEI: Baseball is coming back to Taiwan in a big way, if the government gets its wish. The Sports Affairs Council (SAC) will bring forward a plan by the end of March aimed at revitalizing the game on the island and restoring Taiwan's former stature in international competition, "Premier" Liu Chao-shiuan said yesterday.

Liu told legislators the urgency of the issue was highlighted by Taiwan's disastrous performance at the World Baseball Classic 2009. Taiwan was crushed 9-0 by South Korea, only to be knocked out of competition in an embarrassing 4-1 loss to the mainland.

Liu said the government even went to the Chinese Professional Baseball League and the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association to try to work out a solution to Taiwan's precipitate fall in baseball stature.

The government got good response to Liu's proposal in January for revitalizing the game. Taoyuan county, Taipei county and Taichung city all expressed interest in participating. Liu said the enthusiasm shows that baseball fever can be rekindled on Taiwan as long as someone makes the first move.

Following Liu's announcement, SAC Chairwoman Tai Hsia-ling said the sports body will complete the draft of a bill in June, mandating tax deductions for corporate sponsors of sporting events.

According to Liu, the government will study the feasibility of applying the new law retroactively so that businesses that undertook sponsorship before the bill comes into law could benefit from the measure as well.

Liu also responded to reports that many former athletes are facing unemployment. He noted that the "Ministry of Education" earmarks a portion of its budget every year to support colleges and universities that hire writers, artists and athletes to faculty positions.That, he observed, is one option for former athletes in seeking employment.

Liu promised that the "Cabinet" will hold a sports affairs conference to talk about broader issues of developing sports on Taiwan.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 03/11/2009 page1)